Portable cooling apparatus



`Ian. 17, 1933. W, F DOIETRICHSON 1,894,674 I PORTABLE COOLING APPARATUS Filed July l0. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 frm/mfr Jan. 17? E933. w. F. DIETRICHSON PORTABLE COOLING APPARATUS Filed July l0. 1930 2 Sheets-Shen 1L a :960.9009990 f 2 .www uw www nimm my E lp -7,

u nr

| '.lllllllulnllll-.l "IILH Il Patented Jan. 17, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON, 0F WEBSTER GROVES, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY Application med :muy 1o,

This invention relates to a portable cooling apparatus adapted to be placed in a room or other chamber to be cooled or refrigerated, such for example as the body of a motor vehicle, or a railway car.

At the present time shippers of various commodities are" attempting to devise constructions and means to eliminate the use of water ice as a refrigerant, thereby eliminating the dampness occasioned by the use of such a refrigerant, and this particularly applies to motor vehicles such as refrigerated trucks wherein the body is of such a size as to easily transport commodities such as meat, fish and the like. It has been found in practice that frequently water ice does not furnish refrigeration to maintain the commodities at a desired temperature. In view of this, many experiments have been made with carbon dioxide in solidified form commonly known as dry iceA for the reason that solid carbon dioxide is an inert substance which passes from a solid state to a gas without an intermediate liquid stage. Further, solid carbon dioxide is known to be one of the coldest mediums of the present day and has been found highly satisfactory for use as a refrigerant.

The present invention contemplates the use of solid carbon dioxide in a portable cooling apparatus which may be placed in any chamber to be cooled, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with a .motorvehicle truck body. The apparatus of the present invention being portable may readily be placed in any desired position in a vehicle body.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus, the refrigerating medium for which is solid carbon dioxide.

Another objectof this invention is the provision of a portable cooling apparatus adapted to set up and maintain a circulation of air within a chamber to be cooled.

A further object of this invention is the PORTABLE COOLING APPARATUS 1930. Serial No. 467,043.

provision of a portable cooling apparatus` using solid carbon dioxide as a cooling medium; the apparatus having a closed container for solid carbon dioxide, which container is insulated for a portion of its area whereby to retard the rate of sublimation of the carbon dioxide.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a portable cooling appa.- ratus of the character described having means for instituting a forced draft air circulation therethrough whereby to increase the capacity of the apparatus and effect rapid circulation of air in the chamber to be cooled.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a portable cooling apparatus using solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerating medium, which cooling apparatus is simple and easy to manufacture and strong and durable in operation.

O her objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a sectional view through the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ofthe apparatus. v

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. l.-

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the wood framework forming a part of the apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modified form of the apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7,

' Fig. 6, and

a. top 4 and bottom 6; the walls, top and bottom defining a chamber 8 in which is arranged a closed 'vessel indicated generally at B which is hereinafter termed the dry ice container.

The cabinet A is formed of longitudinally extending corner angles 10 the lower ends of which form supporting legs 12. The walls 2 of the cabinet fit into the angles 10 as shown in Fig. 3 and are secured thereto and to corner posts 14 by means of suitable fasteners 16.

The top 4 is supported on a frame C shown clearly in Fig. 4 which comprises a rectangular structure formed of connected beams 18. As shown clearly in Fig. 1, the walls 2 lap the beams 18 and said walls are provided at their upper ends with reinforcing angles 20 secured to the said walls and to the beams 18. The angles 20 have their horizontal legs overlapping the top 4 and secured to the beams 18 by suitable fasteners 22. To stiften the corners of the cabinet, corner pressings 24 are provided as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The corner posts 14 are connected to the frame C by means of the angles 26 and extend from the under surfaces of the beams 18 to a point just above the bottom G of the cabinet.

The bottom 6 of the cabinet comprises a pressing of sheet metal or the like having a marginal flange 28, and said bottom 6 is of such size as to nicely lit against the several walls of the cabinet as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Suitable fasteners 30, which in the present instance are shown as bolts, secure the bottom 6 in position. To permit drainage of any water of condensation from the cabinet, a suitable valve 32 is provided which depends from the base 6. To stiften the base (i, the latter is provided with a reinforcing rib 34 which is welded or soldered or otherwise secured to the bottom. 6 and is provided with slots 36 to permit drainage of water to the valve 32.

The frame C, which may be termed a main frame, is provided with a supplemental supporting frame D comprising the spaced beams 38 which extend between oppositely arranged beams 18 and which are secured to said beams 18 in any suitable manner as by being mortised therein. Additional securing elements are provided in the forni of angles 40 which connect the beams 38 to the beams 18. Extending between lthe spaced beams 38 are cross ties 42. This supple mental frame D serves t0 support the dry ice container B as now to he described. The dry ice container B comprises a sheet metal structure, preferably of rectangular form and having walls 44 andbottom 46; the latter comprising a plate having marginal flanges 48 which overlap the lower ends of the walls 44 and which are secured to the latter in any suitable manner as by welding or soldering.

The upper edges of the walls 44 are outwardly flanged as shown at 50 to engage over the beams 38 and cross ties 42 whereby the container B is suspended from the supplemental frame D.

The upper portion of the container B is insulated by suitable material 52 which extends around the four side walls 44 and which is secured to the latter by suitable fasteners such as the bolts 54; the insulating material 52 extending from the supplemental frame D down a substantial distance along the walls 44 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The remaining portion of the container is exposed whereby air admitted into the cabinet may Contact with the exposed portions of the container to be cooled. The container is spaced from the cabinet as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and is free of any connection with the cabinet, with the exception of the supporting means therefor, whereby to prevent conduction of heat to the cabinet. In the usual refrigerator it is necessary to provide drain pipes or other` means for removing water of condensation from the refrigerant holding element; such means extending through the refrigerator and furnishing a conductor for heat from the outside atmosphere directly to the refrigerant holding means. Such a construction is not present in the device of the present invention and the cabinet is substantially free of any elements which may conduct heat from outside the cabinet to the container.

The top 4, in addition to being supported by the main frame C is also supported by the supplemented frame D and the top 4 overlaps the flanges 50 of the dry ice container walls 44. The top 4 is shown as formed of metal but it is preferable to form the top of suitable heat insulating material which may be similar to that forming the walls 2 of the cabinet whereby heat is not conducted to the walls of the container. The top 4 is provided with an opening into the container B, which opening is normally closed by a cover 56 formed of heat insulating material and provided with a metallic outer portion 58. It is .desirable to form the cover 56 in such a manner as to seal the open end of the container B whereby gas subliming from the solid carbon dioxide in container B is prevented from escaping freely to the atmosphere. This sealing of the container B by the cover 56 provides for the retention of the gas in the container B so as to surround the solid carbon dioxide and form an insulating blanket therearound, thus retarding the rate of sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide.

As shown clearly in Fig. 5, the top 4 is provided with a plurality of openings 60 to permit entrance of air into the interior of the cabinet where it is Cooled by direct contact with the walls 44 of the container B after having been initially cooled immediately upon its entrance into the cabinet which 'the screened openings.

latter, of course is at a low temperature due to the presence of the container B therein. Two adjacent Walls 2 of the cabinet are provided adjacenttheir lower ends with elongated openings covered by screens 62 held in frames 64 secured to the walls 2 by suitable fasteners 66; these screened openings providing for the exit or egress of the air from the interior of the cabinet after it has been cooled by the container B in said cabinet.

In the modification just described, it will be apparent thatwarm air will enter the 1nterior of the cabinet through the openings 60 and will be cooled due to the cool temperature of the interior ofthe cabinet and also by direct contact with the walls 44 of the container B. As the air is cooled it necessarily drops and passes out of the cabinet through It will be apparent, from the above description, that the specific gravity of the air cooled by direct contact with the container B will set up and maintain an air circulation in the chamber in which the cabinet A is positioned.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 disclose a modified form of the invention, the construction shown in these gures providing for forced draft through the cabinet whereby to increase the capacityY thereof. ln the form shown in these figures the general construction of the cabinet is similar to that heretofore described with reference to Figs. l to 5 inclusive so a repetition of such construction will not be made. ln the form shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive provision is made for positively insulating the side walls of the dry ice container B by parf titions which define a dead air space around the dry ice container. These partitions also serve as means for cooling air admitted into the interior of the cabinet by reason of the fact that the air in the dead air space surrounding the dry ice container B will be cooled and thus cool the partitions whereby air admitted into the interior of the cabinet r first contacts with these cooled partitions.

To provide for insulating the side walls of container B, the space defined between two adjacent walls 44 of container B and their adjacent walls 2 of the cabinet A is provided with a vertical partition 70 having a flanged upper edge 72 secured to the underside of the top 4 of cabinet A. The partition 70 has its ends flanged as shown at 74 to lie against and be secured to adjacent walls 2 of the cabinet A. Viewed in top plan, the partition 7 0 is of angle shape and comprises the sections 7 6 and 7 8 respectively, and the lower edge of each of these sections is deflected inwardly as shown in Fig. 6 at 80 and is then horizontally flanged as at 82; the major portion of the horizontal flange 82 underlying and being secured to the bottom 46 of the container B. The partition 70 it will be apparent, extends around two adjacent side walls 44 of the container B and divides the space between the tion 70, (see Fig. 7)

As shown clearly 1n Fig. 6 the inner edge of the partition 88 extends under the bottom 46 of the container B for a distance suflicient to permit securing the partition 88 to said bottoni 46. The outer edge of the partition 88 is upwardly iianged as shown at 94 and is secured to the walls 2 of the cabinet in any suitable way.

For effecting forced draft of air through the cabinet, a suitable means in the form of a blower indicated in the present instance as a fan 96 is secured in one corner of the cabinet adjacent the bottom 6. Like the structure shown in Fig. l, the lower ends of two adjacent side walls 2 are provided with screened openings to permit egress of air from the interior of the cabinet. The top 4, of the device shown in Figs. 6 and 7, is provided with a plurality of air inlet openings 98 which are elongated, as shown in Fig. 8 and arranged over the space 84 between the walls 2 and the vertical partition 70.

ln use, solid carbon dioxide is placed in the container B. Several blocks of this solid carbon dioxide may be used and it will be apparent that the upper blocks will be maintained against rapid sublimation by reason of the insulating material 5:2 around the upper portion of the container B. rlhese upper blocks, as well as the lower blocks of solid carbon dioxide will be further protected against rapid sublimation because of the fact that the solid carbon dioxide container B is substantially closed whereby to prevent the rapid escape of carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere, the carbon dioxide gas forming an insulating blanket around the solid carbon dioxide in the container B. Air passing into the cabinet A through the openings 60 will be cooled by direct contact with the walls 44 of the container B and the air, after it has been cooled, will drop in the cabinet and pass therefrom into the chamber to be refrigerated. lt will be apparent, therefore, that this invention utilizes carbon dioxide in solid form to establish and maintain a circulation of air within a chamber to be cooled, the refrigerating medium (solid carbon dioxide) being retained in a 'portable self-contained unit.

TWith the invention shown in 6, the fan or blower 96 is connected to any suitable source of current and it will be obvious that when an increase in the capacity of the unit is desired, the fan is set in operation to inrefrigerated. Inasmuch as the container B is substantially free of heat conducting relation or connection with the cabinet, particularly the exposed portions thereof, it will be obvious that the rate of sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide is slower than is present in a construction in which heat conducting contact or connection is established between the container and the cabinet such as is present in the usual type of water-ice refrigerating unit which necessitates a drain pipe.

The drawings illustrate certain embodiments of the invention but it is to be understood that the drawings'are for illustrative purposes only and various changes .in the form and proportions in the device may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the kind described comprising a cabinet having corner angles the lower ends of which deiine supporting legs, side walls secured to said angles, corner stiftening posts arranged in the angles and secured to the latter, a supporting frame secured to the upper edges of said walls, a metal container in said cabinet secured to and depending from said frame, a sealing cover for said container, and air inlet and outlet means for the cabinet.

2. A portable cooling unit adapted for and using solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant comprising a cabinet having a frame in the upper end thereof, a secondary frame supported by said first named frame, a metal container for solicLcarbQn dioxidesecnred to and depending from said secondary frame, insulation surrounding the upper portion of said container, a cover for said container, air inlet means at the upper end of the cabinet, and air outlet means at the lower end of the cabinet.

3. In a cooling device of the kind described, a cabinet, a container for solid carbon .dioxide suspended from the top of the cabinet and having its lower end spaced from the bottom of the. cabinet, insulation secured around the container at its upper portion, and partition elements secured to the cabinet and to the container and at least partly surrounding the container to provide a dead air space around the latter.

4. In a coolingdevice of the kind described, a cabinet, a closed container holding solid carbon dioxide arranged in the container and having its bottom spaced from the bottom of the cabinet, insulating means around the upper portion of said container, a vertical partition in said cabinet adjacent two side walls of the container, a horizontal partition secured to the lower end of the container and to two adjacent walls of the cabinet, the vertical and horizontal partitions defning an enclosed space around the walls of the container, and further providing an air inlet passage, the top of said cabinet being provided with air inlet openings leading into said air inlet passage, air outlet means adjacent the lower end of the cabinet, and means for accelerating the passage of air through the cabinet.

5. In a cooling device adapted for and using solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant,

- a cabinet, a container for solid carbon dioxide suspended from the top of the cabinet and having its lower end spaced from the bottom of the cabinet, insulation around the container at its upper portion, a partition in the cabinet defining a dead air space around the container and further deining an air passage adjacent two side walls of the cabinet, air inlet and outlet means formed in the top and adjacent the bottom of the cabinet respectively, and means in the cabinet for accelerating passage of the air into and out of said cabinet.

6. A portable cooling device adapted for and using solid carbon dioxide as a refrigerant comprising a top having air inlet openings, a container holding solid carbon dioxide arranged in the container in spaced relation to the side walls thereof and having its bottom spaced from the bottom of the cabinet, partitions in the cabinet connected to the container for providing a dead air space around the side walls of the container for insulating the latter, means for admitting air into the cabinet between the partitions and side walls of the cabinet, air outlet means adjacent the bottom of the cabinet and means for accelerating the passage of air into and out of the cabinet.

7. A portable cooling unit comprising i a cabinet having a top, a closed container holding solid carbon dioxide arranged within 'the cabinet and depending from the top thereof, the connection of said cabinet with said top being insulated, insulation around the upper portion only of the container, the rema-iningportions of the container being exposed and free from connection with the cabinet whereby conduction of heat to the container is prevented, and air inlet and outlet rmeans formed in the upper and lower portions, respectively, of the cabinet.

8 In a cooling device of the kind described, a cabinet, a closed metal container for holding solid carbon dioxide arranged Within the cabinet and spaced from the side Walls and bottom Wall of the latter, and a partition secured to the cabinet and partly surrounding the container, said partition-having portions thereof lapping and connected to the bottom of the container and said partition providing a dead air space around a. portion of the container.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

WILLIAM F. DIETRICI-ISON. 

